IN BRIEF
AB 1651, the Muñoz Student Allergy Framework for Emergencies (SAFE) Act, will help reduce the likelihood of lethal allergic reactions on school campuses. By providing schools with more trained individuals to administer epinephrine auto-injectors (EAIs) and ensuring that the location and use of on-campus EAIs are known and accessible to school staff, the bill will help all students be safe at school.
THE ISSUE
According to the Food Allergy Research Education (FARE) organization, as many as 32 million Americans suffer from life threatening allergies. This accounts for a 377% increase in the diagnosis of anaphylactic food reactions between 2007 and 2016. Of this population, nearly 1 in 10 are children who rely on parents, caregivers, teachers, and school administrators to keep them safe while at school. Anaphylaxis is a potentially lethal allergic reaction. It can happen when a person is stung by a bee, ingests food such as shellfish or nuts, or even comes in contact with specific materials like latex. Epinephrine is the first line of treatment for someone who is experiencing anaphylaxis. Without prompt use of an auto-injector, allergic reactions can be severe, and even fatal. EAIs are easily administered and help prevent allergic reactions from becoming lethal if administered promptly. Unfortunately, the prompt use of EAIs prior to professional medical care is not as common as it should be. A recent study found that the application of epinephrine prior to patients’ hospitalization has been suboptimal and that there “is a need for easier access to EAIs in public places.”
Currently, California requires school districts to “provide emergency epinephrine auto-injectors to school nurses or trained personnel” to ensure that schools have the tools they need to intervene in anaphylaxis. However, many schools do not have full time nurses or other personnel authorized to administer EAIs during school hours and after school programming. In fact, the Lucile Packard Foundation’s recent KidsData report shows that California has one of the worst school nurse to student ratios in the country. No county in the state comes close to meeting the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation of one fulltime nurse per school.
THE SOLUTION
AB 1651 will help better protect students with food allergies on campus by doing the following: 1. Requiring EAIs to be stored in accessible and known locations for emergency use. 2. Notify all staff of the location of EAIs in an annual notice. 3. Publicly post information related to the prompt use of EAIs on school campuses. 4. Permit certified volunteers to be able to undergo training to April 17, 2023 administer EAIs on campus during emergencies. Ultimately, AB 1651 will ensure that schools are better equipped to act in instances of anaphylaxis so that students with food allergies are safer on campus.